There can’t be many NPR stations quite like WHDD, the smallest outpost of that embattled empire, serving both urbanized weekenders and local farmers and other residents in a varied slice of the Berkshires, the Litchfield Hills and Dutchess County, N.Y. Amid the whales of contemporary radio, there are still a few distinctly independent minnows, like the anarchically eclectic WFMU in Jersey City or William O’Shaughnessy’s intensely local WVOX in New Rochelle. But in its own eccentric way, in these quite perilous times for public broadcasting, WHDD is not a bad model for what truly public radio might be. — The New York Times
Who are we to argue with the New York Times? WHDD (or Robin Hood Radio) is proudly local and proudly “the smallest NPR station in the nation”. Marshall Miles (a well-liked and familiar radio personality in our area) and Jill Goodman (a local art dealer and popular astrologer), are the visionaries behind WHDD.
Together they decided they wanted to create a radio show that featured local topics and characters. It began as a local internet radio station (Robin Hood Radio) but they jumped on the opportunity when a local AM signal became available and just 2 years ago they took over an unused FM signal that covered Sharon, Lakeville, Salisbury and Millerton. (Anyone who lives here has become familiar with that annoying “Millerton radio free hole”). No more!
In addition to popular NPR programming like Fresh Air, Car Talk, All Things Considered and BBC News, WHDD has an impressive array of local programs that cover an extraordinary cross-section of local interest: Agricultural Reports; Gardening (with Margaret Roach); Daily Horoscopes (with Jill Goodman); Health Matters (with Dr. Jared Zelman from Sharon Hospital’s ER); Green Living Tips from Earthbound Farms; Jazz programs…the list goes on and on.
Of course, Hammertown is a big proponent of all things local so it was only a matter of time before WHDD and Hammertown joined forces. We now have a weekly design and lifestyle show; Love Where You Live which airs on Fridays at 8:30 am with a rebroadcast on Saturday at 4:05 pm. You can also listen anytime on Podcast (click here).
Tune in to WHDD on 91.9 FM, 1020AM or 91.7 FM (Berkshires). Or listen live on their website at robinhoodradio.com.
